The Betsey Johnson label has been produced by New York-based business The Levy Group for the past five years, which is now entering into the dress business for the first time. The new range is a collaboration between Johnson and The Levy Group design director, Suzi Chin.

"We are [pleased] to be working with Betsey on her new dress collection," The Levy Group president, Donald Levy, told WWD. "It was a natural progression to continue into another category."

The designer, who turns 70 on Friday, is still expected to have a catwalk show during New York Fashion Week in September.